Today we take a look at the new Grymkin Playtest by Privateer Press, the game’s new Hordes faction.

Privateer Press is opening up an entirely new way to bring new forces into Warmachines with the Grymkin.

A New Way to Do Things.

As a previous Games Workshop fanboy I never really was able to give feedback on things. Fantasy had armybooks that lasted for years once release and had spotty errattas if any at all. Being part of a live playtest is really cool. Not only do we get a sneak peak at what might be for the new hordes faction. We also get to help shape the faction rule wise with feedback. Being part of the playtest has been personally fun so far and really has gotten my local group interested in the new faction. Things like what about 50 dread rots, or Old Witch is overpowered are common conversations.

How are Players Participating?

Proxying an entire 75 point force can be a daunting and confusing task. What does a crabbit even look like let alone what could be a comparable stand in? These things have lead the community to create new inventive ways to take part in the playtest. From writing on bases, to laser engraving , even full paper image armies on bases. Take a look at some of these proxy armies below.

Why Try Out the Grymkin?

Well the Grymkin warlocks are a lot different then what we are use to. The biggest change to the way the game works is that Grymkin warlocks do not have feats but, these weird combination of arcana cards that are feat-like. It gives them a serious advantage because they have a list of arcana cards and can tailor pick the cards they want to use before each game. How would you like a caster that can change his feat every game but, keeps the same spells and abilities. It almost sounds like a spell draft game of warmachine every game. The arcana cards are pretty strong and with the combination of 3 definitely are comparable to some of the stronger feats in the game. The Grymkin really feel like a unique faction already.

Balance?!?!

We are seeing real feedback from the community and already arcana cards , Old Witch, and Dread Rots have seen changes. Players are being vocal on what is giving a bad play experience. I think it is interesting that Privateer Press has made this playtest open. Obviously, they want to avoid the situation with the way Skorne came out in MKIII. Can the entire Warmahordes community do a better job as a whole then Privateer Press did? I am sure not everybody partaking in the playtest is a tournament level player and might not see some of the crazyier combinations. The question is can the players who do find something that is rather rude and unfun drown out the voices of the filthy casuals that think POW20 weapon masters that cost 1 point are good for the game?